After removing the distributor and leads, coil and associated gubbins, I found this random wire which looks dodgy. Photos taken over the left side front.
It looks like it may have been shielded at the right hand end and from the left hand end, there are two wires but the centre part repair is only one wire.
I'm hoping someone may have knowledge. Clearly, the replacement wire insulation has failed, needing replacement with the correct wire.

 

The joys of one eye, looks scary to me.
You state an 89, so is it Marelli of Lucas, that is the change year, somewhere around May-ish.

It looks horribly like the shielded wire from the AB14 Ign Amp (on the B Bank Inlet) on Lucas, that went behind the engine, out through the grommet near the Brake Booster, and back to Pin 18 of the ECU.

There was, on Lucas cars, a partly shielded wire running from the distributor base to the AB14. Maybe thats it. Greg will wake eventually and clear the mud, I hope, my memory is not getting this item at all.

 

Marelli distributor visible. Looks same as my car.
Other than the slight damage to white wire insulation in one pic both ends look as they should. There is no dodgy repair and the shielding is grounded one end only as it should be.

 

Thanks baxtor. Great to have benefit of your knowledge. I'm from the school of ' if it looks right it probably is' and this just didn't.
And to Grant, it is Lucas. Thanks also.

 

Your pic shows a marelli distributor. You may have misunderstood what Grant was asking.
The 89 was a strange model with a lot of changes taking place. The wiring you reference was, l think an interim move to use up the lucas engine harnesses but still work with the marelli. The spade connector under the heatshrink midway between your two pictures went to amplifier on the lucas cars, but on marelli cars it connected to ECU in trunk via your damaged wire, the shielding showing in that pic is grounded at the trunk end. I have never checked a later car but assume these harnesses were cleaned up in later years.

 

Thanks again baxtor. I'm new, less than 12 months with this car and rushed my reply with out research.
The reason I said Lucas was because of this item in the engine bay behind right side headlight.

 

HA, wait till you get to our age then other things can be blamed,

Lucas system = 13 HT leads.
Marelli = 14 HT leads.

Marelli cars generally need a LOT of "catch up work". NOT super hard, time consuming, a few $$, mainly the 2 crank sensors, dizzy cap and rotor (with the mod), spark plugs, leads.

Then the fun part, EVERY connector, ONE AT A TIME needs to be separated, cleaned, replugged.

I did the same with all my Lucas cars, took 3 weeks (still working full time back then), but the satisfaction after was priceless.

 

Grant is correct. Many things to sort out.
Another random wire which I suspect is a test loop wire left by PO. However the black socket below receives this loop wire perfectly.
This is at the left hand rear of the engine bay near the fire wall.
Any ideas?

 

That looks like the diagnostic connector. More or less redundant although l have my aftermarket TCM hooked up to it for engine speed signal.
There is also a fuel strategy link associated with the marelli ignition for differing fuel advance strategies in there somewhere, I'll have to look up more details.

 

Perfect baxtor. The diagnostic connector is a larger cylinder further along I believe. There is also a red cylinder same size as this black one. I will connect the link and when I've completed injector refurb and injector fuel replacement and new spark plugs, all under way, I will give it a go.